SCHENECTADY — Throughout the season, the Union College special teams have been a strength for the Dutchmen.

In a key ECAC Hockey matchup with Dartmouth on Friday, the Dutchmen's strength became a liability.

Following an ill-advised Union penalty late in the third period, Rick Pinkston's goal with 4:55 left in regulation tied the game as the Big Green rallied for a 2-2 tie with Union at Messa Rink.

Union (13-8-5 overall, 6-4-4 ECAC Hockey) and Dartmouth (11-7-3, 7-5-2) remain tied for third place in the conference standings.

With Union clinging to a 2-1 lead in a game played at a postseason intensity level on national TV, Daniel Ciampini was whistled for tripping Alex Goodspeed as the Big Green were moving the puck into the Union zone with 5:19 left in regulation.

Twenty-four seconds later, Pinkston's shot from the left point hit the post and ricocheted off Union goaltender Troy Grosenick and into the net for the tying goal.

Pinkston's goal was the second power-play goal of the game for Dartmouth, the first time Union's sixth-ranked penalty kill unit has allowed more than one power-play goal in a game this season.

"Our specialty teams let us down tonight, that is the bottom line," Bennett said. "We had some passengers on the top six forwards. At this time of the year, you can't have that."

Union gained a 2-1 lead based on a strong second period.

Kevin Sullivan opened the scoring early in the second period when he crashed the net following Matt Hatch's dash down the left wing boards and around the Dartmouth net before finding Sullivan heading for the net.

Sullivan's one-timer, his first goal of the season, beat Dartmouth goaltender Cab Morris at 3:25 of the second.

"It's been a while, it's nice to get one," Sullivan said. "I didn't have to do much there. Hatch made a great play and drove wide. I was just lucky to be driving the net in that spot."

After Eric Neiley's goal five seconds into Dartmouth's power play tied the game, Union took the lead on Mat Bodie's power-play goal at 13:01 of the second.

Bodie's goal was the lone score in five attempts for the top-ranked Union power-play unit as the Dutchmen failed to cash in when given the chance, including the overtime period when Eric Robinson was called for elbowing 20 seconds into the extra session.

"Special teams have been a huge part of our identity this year and tonight we didn't get it done," Bodie said. "With regards to the power play, we were trying to force some plays I thought. We didn't keep it simple and that's what cost us getting the 'W' there."

The rally and subsequent standings point was important to Dartmouth coach Bob Gaudet.

"I thought our kids battled hard," Gaudet said. "To get that power-play goal and get a point out of there is a good one for us."